Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre in City Hall, 57 Little Malop Street, Geelong on 16 August 2016, commencing at 5:30pm.
Anthony Lewis
Colin Wallace
Lachlan Read
Tom O’Connor
Morghan Crouch
Jennifer Bantow
Emily Raeck
Makaila Kennedy
Dr K Alexander (Chair),P Dorling.
K Spiller (Chief Executive Officer)
D Frost (General Manager Strategy and Performance)
P Bettess (General Manager Planning and Development)
W Tieppo (General Manager City Services)
L Quinn (General Manager Community Life)
B Luxford (General Manager Investment and Attraction)
A Keen (Executive Manager People and Organisational Development)
D Lever (Corporate Internal Auditor)
R Bourke (Co-ordinator Governance and Legal Services)
The Chair declared the meeting open at 5:30pm.
Council acknowledges Wadawurrung Traditional Owners of this land and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who are part of the Greater Geelong community today.
L Gardner (Administrator)
K Alexander moved, P Dorling seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 26 July 2016, be confirmed.
Nil.
Kathy Alexander (Chair), acknowledged Dean’s significant contribution to the City and the Community during his 16 years with the City of Greater Geelong and on behalf of the Council wished him every success for the future.
Question Time is an opportunity for questions to be addressed to Council and while the minutes record the general content, they do not purport to be a transcript of what was said by individuals. Likewise Councillor or Officer verbal responses are in summary form only. Views expressed may not be the views of Council.
Council's practice is to provide a separate document on its website setting out questions and responses including any more detailed written responses which may be provided subsequent to the meeting.
Anthony Lewis addressed the Administrators in relation to the Future of the NDIS:
My family and I utilise the City services for four hours once a week to allow my wife and I some time out from the constant care of my adult autistic daughter. This is our only respite. The Council has provided this service for approximately 20 years. Now to be stopped for the sake of $510k.
My question is when we are spending $1.6 million on the football ground and a further $700,000 on its surrounds – how do we justify cutting out respite and cleaning services for the needy members of our society when we provide millions to a commercial business (football)? I am not anti sport, just anti losing our one and only support re respite?
Kathy Alexander responded that in relation to your statement, I do understand the importance of an effective relationship in that kind of service and understand your concerns. It is important to clarify this is a Federal Government service and Council will work closely with the NDIS to ensure existing Council clients are supported in their transition to alternate providers.
Kathy advised that she would elaborate further during the discussion of the report and that the Administrators will take into consideration what has been said.
Colin Wallace asked the Administrator’s Chair, Kathy Alexander, to meet with him and his wife in relation to the Ropeworks Panel and its report regarding First Street, Geelong West.
Council acknowledges the question and will provide a written response within 14 days.
Lachlan Read from Grovedale Primary School asked:
On behalf of Grovedale Primary School, I was wondering on the possibility of someone coming and addressing our school on the runnings and workings of the Council?
Kathy Alexander responded she was more than happy to provide for a General Manager to attend and speak on behalf of Council in relation to the delivery of services provided. Kathy suggested a discussion be held with the school as to what area of responsibility they would like to learn about and advise her so she can make appropriate arrangements for the visit.
Tom O’Connor addressed Council as follows:
On behalf of the swimming fraternity I would like to acknowledge the extensive and challenging work of Dean Frost and his team, particularly in relation to LeisureLink, Kardinia, and Waterworld.
Progress of the new democracy foundation concept within Council and the potential for change over time?
Kathy Alexander advised that the process and convening of the Citizen’s Jury was initiated by the Minister of Local Government and not Council, and therefore, she was loath to comment. Kathy advised that, in her experience, Citizen’s Juries generally make sound decisions which is one of the reasons for investment in community engagement. It will be extremely interesting to hear what this group says. In terms of progress its something we are interested in but Council is not managing the project.
Morghan Crouch asked on behalf of Grovedale Primary School if there has been any decision in regards to the Christmas Tree on the Geelong Waterfront and if no, when do you see a decision being made?
Kathy Alexander responded yes there has been a decision agreeing that the business case ‘stacks up’, and the Christmas Tree will continue.
Brett Luxford added that part of what we do is analyse the cost benefit associated with the Christmas Tree based on the number of visitors that came into Geelong and spent money and stayed in Geelong. The result was a positive cost benefit and the decision taken by Council is to support the Christmas Tree for the next three years.
Jennifer Bantow addressed Council in relation to Item 7 – Section B Reports – 26 July 2016.
Is the sale to Barwon Health or Barwon Health Future Fund Foundation?
Dean Frost responded the sale is ultimately to Barwon Health.
Could ‘option agreement’ and ‘terms to be agreed’ and ‘potential terms of sale’ please be explained? What terms would be acceptable? What are the arrangements for paying back the State Government the sale price that was waived when the Gaol was effectively given to the people of Geelong?
Kathy Alexander expressed the fact that Council needs to be comfortable with the terms, as do they.
Dean Frost replied the approximate amount of $300,000 would be paid back to the State Government as per the terms of the loan, however Council is expecting more from the sale.
Which organisation, Rotary, Barwon Health, or some other agency would have responsibility for the maintenance of the significant architectural fabric of the Gaol, its boundary walls and corner towers? In the period of lease to Rotary? In the long term?
Kathy Alexander responded if we sell to Barwon Health it will be Barwon Health’s responsibility to maintain it.
Ms Bantow also raised concerns in relation to the works being carried out on the Dalgety Wool Stores building and questioned the terms of the permit?
Peter Bettess responded that he would follow up and check the specifics but was not aware of any breach.
Kathy Alexander added that the permit would have been issued by the Planning Minister.
Emily Raeck on behalf of Grovedale Primary School asked how long are you anticipating to be Administrators of our Council and do you see the numbers of people administrating the Council increasing?
Kathy Alexander responded that the term of our appointment is until October 2017, and there are some things which we have been told by the Minister that we have to address in that time. It is unlikely that any more Administrators will be appointed to Geelong, however, the Minister may extend the term with the agreement of Parliament.
Makaila Kennedy on behalf of Grovedale Primary School asked what is the role of all the other people around the table if only three people are Adminstrators?
Kathy Alexander asked each person around the table to introduce themselves and provide a brief outline of their job responsibility.
Kathy Alexander presented a petition received from the Geelong Visitors’ Access Centre asking Council to make available to its citizens an area and a service comparable to the Travellers’ Aid Access Services in Melbourne, which they believe would enhance the ‘visitability’ and ‘livability’ of Geelong.
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